Rotary connector

Abstract

A rotary connector including a structure for connecting a flat cable to a lead block. The lead block includes a plurality of parallel joint conductors extending through a resin member. A pair of holding arms extend perpendicularly from the resin member. A window is formed in the resin member through which portions of the joint conductors are exposed, and a pair of projections are provided adjacent the window. The flat cable includes parallel conductors sandwiched by insulating films. A connecting portion of the insulating films is provided at a leading end of the flat cable, and alignment holes are formed in the connecting portion. Portions of the conductors are exposed between the flat cable and the connecting portion, and grooves are formed in sides of the flat cable adjacent the exposed conductor portions. When the flat cable is attached to the lead block, the projections are inserted in the alignment holes formed in the connecting portion, and the holding arms are bent into the grooves to fixedly connect the flat cable to the lead block. The conductors of the flat cable are then welded to the joint conductors of the lead block through the window.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of first conductors;   wherein the lead block includes means for attaching the flexible cable to the lead block such that exposed portions of the plurality of first conductors are aligned with exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors;   wherein the attaching means comprises a holding arm provided on the resin member for holding the flexible cable; and   wherein the holding arm is formed as one piece with one of the plurality of second conductors.   
     
     
       2. The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means comprises a projection provided on the resin member for engaging a positioning cutout formed on an insulating film of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       3. The rotary connector according to claim 2, wherein the cutout serves as a hole formed in the insulating film of the flexible cable. 
     
     
       4. The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein the insulating resin member includes a window through which the plurality of first conductors of the flexible cable are welded to the plurality of second conductors. 
     
     
       5. The rotary connector according to claim 1, wherein the lead block is fixed to said one of the first and second housings without an insulating covering. 
     
     
       6. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors;   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of first conductors; and   lead wires of a cable connected to the lead block such that the lead wires extend from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block includes means for attaching the lead wires to the lead block such that exposed portions of the lead wires are aligned with exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors.   
     
     
       7. The rotary connector according to claim 6, wherein the attaching means includes a recessed groove formed in the insulating resin member to exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors, and the insulating resin member includes a plurality of windows communicating with the recessed groove through which the lead wires are welded to the plurality of second conductors. 
     
     
       8. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of first conductors; and   a plurality of lead wires of a cable connected to the lead block such that each of the plurality of lead wires has a first end electrically connected to one of the plurality of second conductors, and a second end extending from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block includes first means for attaching the flexible cable to the lead block such that exposed portions of the plurality of first conductors are aligned with exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors; and   wherein the lead block includes second means for attaching the lead wires to the lead block such that exposed portions of the lead wires are aligned with exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors.   
     
     
       9. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings without an insulating covering, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of the first conductors; and   a plurality of lead wires of a cable having a first end electrically connected one of the plurality of second conductors, and a second end extending from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block is engaged with an engaging portion provided in said one of the first and second housings and protected by a protecting portion provided in said one of the first and second housings.   
     
     
       10. The rotary connector according to claim 9, wherein the lead block has a positioning part guided by a guide portion provided on an inner wall of a receiving recess serving as the engaging portion of said one of the first and second housings. 
     
     
       11. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of first conductors;   wherein the lead block includes means for attaching the flexible cable to the lead block such that exposed portions of the plurality of first conductors are aligned with exposed portions of the plurality of second conductors; and   wherein the insulating resin member includes a window through which the plurality of first conductors of the flexible cable are welded to the plurality of second conductors.   
     
     
       12. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings without an insulating covering, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of the first conductors; and   a plurality of lead wires of a cable having a first end electrically connected one of the plurality of second conductors, and a second end extending from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block is engaged with an engaging portion provided in said one of the first and second housings.   
     
     
       13. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings without an insulating covering, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of the first conductors; and   a plurality of lead wires of a cable having a first end electrically connected one of the plurality of second conductors, and a second end extending from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block is protected by a protecting portion provided in said one of the first and second housings.   
     
     
       14. A rotary connector comprising: a first housing;   a second housing rotatably connected to the first housing such that an annular space is formed therebetween;   a flexible cable received in the space formed between the first and second housings, the flexible cable including a plurality of first parallel conductors; and   a lead block fixed to one of the first and second housings without an insulating covering, the lead block including an insulating resin member and a plurality of second conductors disposed in the insulating resin member, each of the plurality of second conductors being electrically connected to one of the plurality of the first conductors; and   a plurality of lead wires of a cable having a first end electrically connected one of the plurality of second conductors, and a second end extending from said one of the first and second housings;   wherein the lead block is inserted into a receiving recess provided in said one of the first and second housings.